Essay on a Visual Perspective of Medieval Writing
Essay on a Visual Perspective of Medieval Writing

Summary/Abstract: This paper aims to explore the visual and epigraphic properties of medieval writing as well as considering writing medium, technique, and communicative status. The boundaries between different auxiliary disciplines in Medieval Studies (paleography, epigraphy, numismatics, sigillography) have created separate categories of writings and scripts within the writing culture of the Middle Ages, even if the letterforms, functions, and types of writing actually do not differ from one medium to another. A strong case for removing the disciplinary boundaries rests on the facts that writing was executed by scribes sharing training, tools and know-how, and that the iconic value of script and its visual aspects were activated primarily in the display of letters regardless of the variations in the content of the text, in its location, or its linguistic form. “Epigraphic” forms are used in manuscript tituli; “manuscript” abbreviations are found in stone inscriptions; seals show “epigraphic” mise en page; calamus-like features are inscribed on coins… Beyond the obvious inaccuracy of terminology, what do those commonalities between written objects show? How could we address the porosity of medieval literacy?

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